OBAMA TO CONGRESS: I'm Going It Alone On ISIS

President Barack Obama looks around during a flypast at the NATO summit in Newport, Wales

President Barack Obama told congressional leaders on Tuesday he has the
"authority he needs to take action" against the extremist group calling
itself the Islamic State (also ISIS or ISIL), suggesting he wouldn't
ask for authorization for the use of force against the group in the
near-term.

"The President told the Leaders
that he has the authority he needs to take action against ISIL in
accordance with the mission he will lay out in his address tomorrow
night," the White House said in a statement.

"He reiterated his belief that
the nation is stronger and our efforts more effective when the President
and Congress work together to combat a national security threat like
ISIL. The President told the Leaders that he would welcome action by the
Congress that would aid the overall effort and demonstrate to the world
that the United States is united in defeating the threat from ISIL. The
President and his team look forward to continuing extensive
consultation with Congress."

There has not been a consensus in
Congress about whether Obama should seek authorization for an expansion
of military action against ISIS. Many members of Congress, including
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have said Obama should seek approval.

However, other congressional leaders, including House Speaker John
Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, have remained mum on their
thoughts about authorization. Multiple House and Senate aides have
signaled there might be little appetite for Congress to vote on military
action, which could prove to be a political liability later on, in an
election year.

After Obama's meeting with
leadership on Tuesday, an aide to Boehner said the speaker expressed
support for certain options currently under consideration, including
boosting the Iraqi Security Forces and training and equipping moderate
elements of the Syrian opposition. Boehner also told Obama he would
support the deployment of U.S. forces to help train and advise the ISF,
as well as assist with "lethal targeting of ISIL leadership."

" The Speaker made it clear that
ISIL is preparing to fight us, and that as we learned in Syria, the
longer we wait, the more difficult our choices become," the aide said.
"It is in the best interests of the United States and our allies to put
in place a strategy that rises to the challenge of the threat we face,
and takes the fight directly to ISIL in a decisive fashion."

The 1973 War Powers Resolution
specifies the president must consult with Congress before deploying U.S.
forces into hostile situations. The resolution gives the president a
60-day window to carry out military operations before coming to Congress
for approval.

Whether or not it gets a crack at authorization, Congress would have
to approve any new funding for operations. The White House has begun a
push for Congress to approve a $5 billion counterterrorism fund that
could aid in operations against ISIS.

The administration could argue congressional approval of such
funding would fulfill the requirement of congressional authorization.
It's a strategy that has precedent — the Clinton administration used congressional approval of defense-related funding to justify continued military action in Kosovo.

"Tonight you will hear from the President how the United States will
pursue a comprehensive strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL,
including U.S. military action and support for the forces combating
ISIL on the ground – both the opposition in Syria and a new, inclusive
Iraqi government," a White House official said.

"The President will discuss how
we are building a coalition of Allies and partners in the region and in
the broader international community to support our efforts, and will
talk about how we work with the Congress as a partner in these efforts."